Chris Page Hitting Stride With Age

Ottawa folk-punk music hero Chris Page doesn’t mind getting older one bit. In fact, he sees a number of benefits associated with the inevitable act of aging, especially when it comes to music.

“When I was younger and making music, I was always trying to rush stuff out the door,” Page says from down the line at a Toronto airport. “I’ve come to realize though that if I take the time to plan things out a little more, it ends up being a much more rewarding experience.”

Page’s newly released effort, Volume Vs. Voice, inadvertently served as an exercise in patience for the long-running musician. Although the record was ready to be released around this time last year, Page took a step back from the album and music altogether following the tragic loss of his father.

“I needed to step back and put a lot of different aspects of my life on hold following this huge, life-changing event. When it came to the record though, I also needed to figure out what I would do in terms of a release. The companies I had worked with in the past weren’t necessarily going to be options this time around, so I really had to evaluate my next steps accordingly.”

Volume Vs. Voice is a perfect addition to Page’s lengthy discography of music. A troubadour that sounds as at home penning introspective acoustic songs, like those heard on his new album, as he is indulging in punk-inspired rock and roll, Page says he was looking to make an acoustic-type of record for quite some time.

“I still thoroughly enjoy playing rock and roll, but this type of record is something that I wanted to get out of my system for quite awhile,” he says.

Over the course of his career, Page would be the first to admit that he has been fortunate to work with a wide array of labels right around the world. In the end, however, he chose to self-release Volume Vs. Voice, an act he still considers gratifying, even a quarter-century into his career. The gravitation towards independence is one that brought him back to his roots of championing his first punk outfit, The Stand GT.

“In some respects, it is easier to make a go of things now in terms of being an independent artist. I like sharing things with people. Being part of a community has always been what is most important to me both as a musician and as an artist.

“Back when The Stand GT got our start, we were fortunate enough to work with a couple of really great labels, but when we would go on the road, it was a bit like a black hole in terms of garnering exposure. It was a great adventure when I was younger, but I am not so interested in doing that at this point in my career,” Page laughs.

In Page’s opinion, the music industry seems to be thriving off the virtually limitless powers bestowed upon indie bands these days. He says the music scene in his adopted hometown of Ottawa is arguably the most vibrant it has ever been.

“Perhaps the coolest thing about the scene in Ottawa right now is, in addition to the fact there are a lot of shows happening throughout the city, there are a lot of younger guys and girls playing in bands, which instills a certain palpable energy into the scene. It is very inclusive and very do-it-yourself oriented. It’s exciting. It really takes me back to the days when I was first getting involved in the scene.”